Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton are united in urging press to give Malia Obama her privacy

By Abigail Malbon| 1 year ago

Ivanka Trump and Chelsea Clinton in 2014. (Getty)

The former friends called upon the public to respect the teenager.

When video surfaced recently of Malia Obama smoking and kissing a young man, it made headline news.

Malia, just like any other 19-year-old, has just gone to college. She has never had a (public) boyfriend before, nor has she had the freedom that most children experience. Her public profile as the daughter of former President of the United States Barack Obama has allowed for a privileged childhood, but she almost certainly was looking forward to escaping the scrutiny in order to study and be around others her age.

But, rather than distancing herself from the media’s glare, her new-found independence has made her even more of a target.

Malia catching up with a friend in New York. Image: Getty

The recent video and images of the Harvard University student caused uproar online, with many sharing their opinion on how Malia should be behaving. In fact, it seemed like the only people who didn’t respond were the Obamas themselves.

Even Ivanka Trump, daughter of President Donald, and Chelsea Clinton, daughter of former presidential candidate Hillary, have something to say. But despite their allegiance to different parties, the two women are united in defending Malia and the recent backlash.

"Malia Obama should be allowed the same privacy as her school-aged peers," Trump, who serves as an assistant to the president, wrote on Twitter. "She is a young adult and private citizen, and should be OFF limits."

Clinton also wrote: "Malia Obama's private life, as a young woman, a college student, a private citizen, should not be your clickbait. Be better."

When both their parents ran for president, however, many sensed a feud. Last year, Ivanka told Cosmopolitan.com: "I am absolutely friends with Ivanka and I am grateful for her friendship. And I'm always going to believe, because this is how my parents raised me, that friendship is more important than politics."